#Young Adult Library Services Association

[justforbooks]

That Librarian by Amanda Jones

A small-town US librarian’s lively account of her battle with a group of far-right censors reveals the toll it took on her health

Amanda Jones’s story is awful – and important. A school librarian for 23 years in her home town of Watson, southern Louisiana, she has watched with concern in recent years as a movement of book-banning swept across the US. According to the American Library Association, “book challenges” in public libraries almost doubled from 729 in 2021 to 1,269 in 2022.

In July 2022, when Jones heard about a public meeting that would discuss “book content” in local libraries, she went along. A board member said she was “concerned” about some “inappropriate” material in the local library’s children and young adult sections. In response, Jones gave a measured speech, explaining her belief that “while book challenges are often done with the best intentions, and in the name of age appropriateness, they often target marginalised communities” and “books on sexual health and reproduction”. She went on to detail the “First Amendment right to borrow, read, view, and listen to library resources”.

“I said nothing earth-shattering,” Jones writes in her memoir. But within days her life had been upended because of two posts on social media. The first was by the Facebook page of Citizens for a New Louisiana, a far-right group whom Jones knew had worked to defund a library in nearby Lafayette and whose executive director was a man named Michael Lunsford. It accused Jones of “fighting so hard to keep sexually erotic and pornographic materials in the kids’ section”. The second Facebook post was made by local man Ryan Thames, who wrote that Jones advocated “teaching anal sex to 11-year-olds”.

The posts were shared widely by local people, including many Jones knew. “One parent in particular whose child I had helped with getting services for a learning disability was especially vicious,” she writes, devastatingly. Later, she received a death threat. Over the course of the next year, Jones, who is in her mid-40s, lost a lot of weight, experienced hair loss and took medical leave from work. In the spring of 2023 she sued Lunsford and Thames for defamation.

That Librarian is Jones’s account of the 2022 public meeting that started her ordeal, the ultimately unsuccessful court case and all that followed. She has a lively, convivial style: “I worried that my friends and family would be targeted next. Spoiler alert: they were.” Sometimes this breeziness veers into pettiness, as when she describes an opponent who has “the spelling and grammar of a child of 10”, or refers to Valarie Hodges, a member of the Louisiana state senate who posted online against Jones, as “my gal pal Val”.

The more wistful sections are warming. Jones describes how she was in high school when Watson had its first traffic light installed – that’s how small a town it is. She credits her teenage reading of Judy Blume, one of the most banned authors ever, with “making me more empathetic”. Jones believes uncompromisingly in the power of books to open minds. And through working as a school librarian, has seen the impact of exclusion politics: “I have lost more former students to suicide than I care to think about, many of whom, I suspect, died as a direct result of being made to feel excluded in our society.” Together, these experiences have informed her anti-censorship mentality.

But she knows party politics comes into it too. Her local area has become “extremely alt-right and conspiratorial” in recent years, and she has noticed that “all book banners seem to be Republican”. She is refreshingly honest about her relative complicity. “It wasn’t until I was into my 40s that I realised some aspects of our country weren’t that great,” she writes, before admitting that she voted for Donald Trump in 2016. She regrets it now, but these admittances are important. Listening to voices from across the political divide, and understanding the ways in which we are both similar and different to those who vote similarly and differently to us is crucial in understanding why the world is the way it is – even more so after Trump’s re-election.

Several times, Jones refers to how she has tracked her defamers to see they have also donated to election campaigns of particular pro-ban politicians. But she never fully examines the intricacies of this likely organised overlap, or takes a step back to consider how this current wave of book banning compares with historical cases. As such, “my fight against book banning in America” would be a more suitable subtitle, not “the fight”. This is a brave, fascinating book, but it’s the personal story of Jones’s ordeal – about which she is evidently still very bitter – rather than an account of the movement as a whole.

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[nealshustermanreal]

Honored and humbled to have received the 2024 Margaret A. Edwards Award at this month’s ALA conference, celebrating a significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature. My deepest thanks to the Young Adult Library Services Association, the School Library Journal and the award committee for bestowing this distinguished recognition upon me. Your acknowledgment of my work inspires me to continue creating stories that resonate with young readers.

[lesterpubliclibrary]

Wisconsin Librarian of the Year! by Lester Public Library Via Flickr: Congratulations to Terry Ehle, Youth Coordinator, Lester Public LIbrary, Two Rivers, Wisconsin, for being selected as the 2024 Librarian of the Year by the Wisconsin Library Association! We are very proud of Terry! From WLA: Librarian of the Year – Terry Ehle, Lester Public Library, Two Rivers Terry Ehle has been with the Lester Public Library since 1998. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Western Illinois University, and after being named the 2014 SSCS Paralibrarian of the Year, attained her MLIS from UW-Milwaukee. Terry is an active member of the WLA Youth Services Section (YSS), serving as YSS Chair in 2017. She is also a member of the American Library Association, Association for Library Service to Children, and Young Adult Library Services Association. According to her colleagues, Ehle consistently raises the bar in materials selection and programming for infants to teens at her library: Ehle introduced, and is still helping widen the scope of, Reach Out and Read in Manitowoc County, a program that put 2,382 books in the hands of parents and their young children last year. Also in 2023, she submitted a successful grant application to promote early literacy and environmental awareness in partnership with Two Rivers Parks & Recreation and Woodland Dunes Nature Center & Preserve. As a result, Storywalks® were erected on library grounds and at a local park, and a large part of the park was restored to wetland, with a raised boardwalk and natural play features added. The project will delight residents and visitors for years to come. During the pandemic, Ehle spearheaded story time, youth, and family to-go packs. The plan was to discontinue the program once the building reopened, but she made the decision to continue it due to the positive response. From its start in May 2020 through July 2024, packs have reached more than 25,000 users. Ehle has championed teen engagement in the community with TR Teen Nights, an after-hours library program that has expanded to include community partners, including the city’s parks & recreation department, the school district, Woodland Dunes Nature Center & Preserve, and Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum. The partners invite teens into their spaces for safe, inexpensive, fun activities. The program provides enriching events and demonstrates that the community values teens and will find ways to encourage them. Through her efforts, the Rotary Club of Two Rivers awarded funds to implement a STEAM area in the library Ehle has formed a strong partnership with the Two Rivers School District. She meets regularly with administrators and educators and was a participant in community discussions to map out goals and strategies for a district three-year plan. She is president of the governance board of the Lighthouse Learning Academy, the district’s online charter school. Ehle is also dedicated to visiting district schools to do book talks. She brings library books to these visits for all students to check out, providing important access for children whose parents do not visit the library. This is no easy task - in the 2023-24 school year, she visited 32 classes monthly and checked out more than 1,600 books to students. Ehle is known as a well-versed advocate for best practices regarding the way children learn and shares this expertise with her community and her peers. Ehle leads the early literacy work group for the Investing Early Coalition of Healthiest Manitowoc County, a group which provides collaborative leadership to improve the well-being of the county. She has presented on youth programming and innovation in programming at past WLA conferences and has served as a panelist and presenter for webinars with both YSS and the WLA Outreach Services Roundtable. She recently co-wrote the article, “Practice the Practices: Kids Learn Big in Dramatic Play Areas,” for the fall 2024 issue of Children & Libraries, the journal of the Association for Library Service to Children. Due to the success of the local Reach Out & Read (ROR) partnership, Ehle serves on a Wisconsin ROR committee that is compiling a toolkit to maximize partnerships between libraries and clinics. Ehle is also an advocate for librarianship as a career, arranging behind-the-scenes tours, career days, and community service projects for area youth. She has twice participated in internship programs mentoring college students considering a library career. The Lester Public Library, Two Rivers and its surrounding communities, and the state of Wisconsin are the lucky beneficiaries of Ehle’s dedication, creativity, and vision in providing outstanding library services.

[lilacella]

I've got 99 problems, would you like to be one?

Ao3

Chapter 3: Like Cats and Dogs

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"Just leave him, you know he'll come around to it."

The female voice coming from the corridor in front of the common room made Remus look up from his book.

"He better! If he thinks this is negotiable..."

That was Sirius, unmistakably. Apparently the board meeting hadn't went as smoothly as they both had hoped.

AWERE had been founded with the intention to help werewolves of all classes and backgrounds. But children had never been considered. Maybe because the thought of children being affected was too hard to stomach to even think about or maybe because they needed a lot more in depth care than adults.

The inhabitants of the housing project were mostly responsible for themselves. Food and shelter were provided, but they were expected to prepare their own meals - except for two days after the moon where, Remus had been told, the board members pulled double shifts to make sure everyone was taken care of - and to mostly occupy themselves.

Children however came with a whole different bag of responsibilites. They needed supervision - depending on the age pretty much constantly, they needed to be fed and kept clean, they needed to be taught and parented.

The association simply didn't have the resources to provide these services on top of what they already did. The active members consisted of only five people: Sirius, Gilford, Acacia, Renfred and Aisling - a lot less than Remus had assumed. And they already ran on fumes.

Still, Sirius had assured him throughout the past week that Olivia would be able to stay. As long as Remus stayed with her and took over the main responsibility.

He hadn't been ready for this. It had scared him and honestly, taking care of a child on top of the mess he currently called his life was the last thing he needed.

Of course he had agreed.

Olivia needed someone. And as scary as it might seem, Remus would do his best to step up. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, as long as Sirius had his back...

The door to the common room was pushed open and Sirius and Acacia entered. Olivia looked up from her magical creatures puzzle and excitedly waved at them.

Sirius smiled back but Remus could see the worry in his eyes. That did not bode well.

"Go talk to Remus," he heard Acacia say quietly while she nuged Sirius towards the couch Remus was sitting on, making her own way over to Olivia. "Wow, you almost got it solved already! Good job!"

Sirius plopped down next to Remus and sighed. Then he glanced over to the book on his lap with a smirk.

"Oh my, you are reading a book? I thought you never do that!"

Remus snorted in annoyance and slapped the book shut.

"I merely said that it's not the only thing I do."

"Which I never implied."

"Yes you did!"

"No, I just said you would enjoy the library and you got all catty..."

"I didn't get catty, I just pointed out that..." Acacia shot them a look from across the room and Remus faltered.

"How did the meeting go?"

Sirius dropped back into the seating and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Peachy. Gilford thinks Olivia will 'destabilise the integrity of the whole project' - ridiculous, really - and I think Aisling just doesn't want our workload to increase. Acacia is on my side though. I think Olivia reminds her of her sister..."

Remus nodded. During a quick intro to his fellow board members, Sirius had mentioned how Acacia joined because her little sister got bitten young and died, because the local hospital had refused to treat her.

"I think Aisling might be onto something...If you take one, you are..."

"Setting a precedent, Merlin you sound like Gilford," Sirius growled. "So what, then let's set a precedent! We should figure out what we can do for affected children anyways, we might as well start now!"

"But you don't have the people for it."

"We've got you, for Olivia. And...Well, I guess I agree that we can't make this a large scale situation now. But I don't think it is ludicrous to allow children, as long as they are accompanied by an adult."

Remus nodded again. "I'm the adult."

Sirius laughed.

"Looks like it."

"So can she stay?"

"Yes. But Gilford hates it and will blame me, if anything goes wrong. And he refuses to take any type of responsibility for her so if it's his shift, you will be on your own I'm afraid."

"That's alright." Remus drew thoughtful circles on his thigh. These were good news. If Olivia wouldn't have been able to stay, he would have left with her. And he didn't want to leave. He didn't like to admit it, but Sirius was really a life saviour in this case..."Thank you, for taking care of this."

Sirius shrugged nonchalantly and leaned his arm onto the backrest behind Remus.

"It's no bother."

He threw a look at Remus' book again.

"What are you reading?"

"The tragic tales of Timonberd the Troll hunter. It's a memorial biography for... Well, for Timonberd the Troll hunter. Apparently he died in a ravine because a Troll threw a rock at him... It's not very good."

Sirius grinned in amusement.

"Then why are you reading it? Considering that you have so many other options..."

Remus huffed. This fucker.

"It's not like I don't have any interests besides reading, it's rather that I lack the energy to do much..."

That should shut him up.

"Excuses. You could do anything you wanted, for at least two weeks of the month. You just like reading, admit it."

"I want to kill you, how about I do that?"

Sirius grinned widely.

"See, that is a great idea! Would keep us both busy."

Remus felt warm. Something about bickering with Sirius like that felt oddly comfortable. Like it was something that was theirs...

"You are one to talk about hobbies, actually. What do you even do besides AWERE? You are here all the time!"

Sirius let out an indignant gasp.

"I do have hobbies! I have my bike..."

"Riding a vehicle is hardly a hobby."

"Well, I also need to fix things on it occasionally..."

"Fix things?! I thought it was perfectly safe?"

"It is, because I fix the things!"

"Still, hardly a hobby. What else have you got?"

Sirius snorted and crossed his arms.

"I don't need to explain myself to you."

"So you don't have anything else then."

"I do! I read, as well."

"You do?"

"Did you just sound surprised?!"

"No no, I've just never seen you read..."

"Because I read so fast."

Remus couldn't hold back a laugh.

"I bet you do."

"Do you think I'm stupid?"

Now, Sirius seemed actually a little offended.

"No," Remus said quickly. "Reading has nothing to do with how smart you are..."

"I do read though..."

"Fine, name five authors?" This was a stupid question, but ribbing at Sirius was just so much fun...

"Oh boy, be careful that you don't get a cramp, holding that gate so tightly..."

Remus spluttered at the mental image.

"I'm sorry I'm just getting at you."

Sirius rolled his eyes, but the corners of his mouth twitched.

"Are you reading anything right now?"

"Yes. But it's mostly specialized non-fiction to be honest. I don't think I could get invested into Timonberd's adventures..."

"It's a hard thing to do."

"Trollskin hard..."

They burst into inexplicable laughter.

Remus had found that he enjoyed spending time with Sirius. With him, things just seemed to flow. Sometimes in the wrong direction, leading them into whitewater, always in motion, never stalling, but it didn't concern Remus. He knew that if he would fall off the boat, no matter how mad Sirius would be at him in the moment, he'd jump after him in a heartbeat. And then continue to pretend like he really didn't care at all, after dragging him back on board...

Pretentious bastard.

**

"Ouch, you are pulling too hard!" Olivia slapped Remus' fingers off her head. "And this looks really bad!"

"I'm sorry, I'm not very well versed in braiding hair..."

Olivia pulled on her half braided plait and inspected it with open distaste. Remus cringed in frustration. He was trying his best here!

Something Remus hadn't considered when taking over the care of the small girl, was the long hair. You couldn't just keep it open, it would tangle horribly and brushing it at night would become an unmanageable ordeal.

Remus had figured out how to do a ponytail and pigtails, quickly. Wasn't that hard. Brainding, on the other hand turned out to be rather complicated and he was a little out of his depth. But Olivia had asked for plaits and Remus really didn't want to dissapoint her.

An idea crossed his mind.

"I'll be right back, okay?"

He rushed out the door towards the reception where Sirius was bent over a notebook, scribbeling down numbers.

"Hey. Are you busy?"

Sirius looked up and regarded him with a brief smile.

"Just writing the list for next month. We are low on a bunch of stuff... Do you need anything?"

"Uhm. Yes. Could you maybe just come with me real quick?"

Sirius frowned, but followed Remus into his room.

"I can't figure out how to do plaits. And... I thought maybe you knew how to."

Sirius crossed his arms, defensively.

"And why would I know that?"

"Well, you've got long hair and..."

"Is it braided?"

"No, but..."

"You are unbelievable."

Sirius shoved Remus aside and picked up the questionable braid.

"This is parted awfully, and what is this supposed to be?"

Remus pressed his lips together. Olivia giggled.

"He is really bad!"

"Don't worry love, I'm here now," Sirius said softly to Olivia, shooting Remus a side-eye, before proceeding to undo Remus' work while clicking his tounge with contemptuousness.

"I want pretty plaits! Not the simple ones!"

"French or fishtail?"

Olivia squealed. "I don't know. Pretty ones!"

"Then let's go for french braids today," Sirius said as if these words were commonplace knowledge and started brushing Olivias hair into more even parts.

He threw Remus a look.

"Don't just stand there. Pick up the other side and follow along! I'm not going to do this everyday!"

Olivia giggled and kicked her feet on the chair as Remus meekly followed Sirius' directions.

"So you do know how to braid," he stated as he tried to somehow follow what on earth Sirius was doing there, pulling strands from the outside in and crossing them over in a rapid rhythm, creating a clean and even pattern. Remus own fingers constantly got entangled in the hair and he had to reopen sections, because they looked wonky.

"But not my own. Used to do it for my cousins when I was a kid. When we were still close... Kept me busy during all the dismal family functions."

Remus realised, that he barely knew anything about Sirius' family. He knew that the Blacks were blood supremacists, all in Slytherin, except Sirius.

Sirius, the black sheep of the black family. Rather ironic. He also knew, that Sirius had ran away from home during one summer. Apparently things had been pretty bad. Remus didn't know any details, only faint gossip and theories about the most horrible things. He couldn't imagine them to be true. Or maybe he just didn't want to imagine something like that happening to carefree, brave Sirius.

"What are you doing? You will ruin her hair!" Sirius pulled Remus' hand off the braid, having already finished his own and swiftly undid Remus' braiding once more.

"Watch closely! Take hair from the outside, right over the middle. Take hair from outside again, left over the middle. It's really not that difficult!"

"I'm just not used to it, okay? No need to be so snappish."

"I'm not snappish, you are..."

"Are you two in love?"

Olivias innocent words made them both freeze up.

"What?"

"Well, Mommy always said that if a boy is being mean to me, it means he likes me. So you two like eachother?"

Sirius smiled painfully and mumbled between gritted teeth: "What a great thing to teach a child. Maybe it's good we are keeping you here..."

"We aren't mean to each other," Remus tried to explain. "We were just..."

"Bantering." Sirius helped him out.

"Right. Just bantering. Friendly."

"So you aren't in love then?" Olivia didn't seem entirely convinced. Sirius shot Remus a look that he couldn't quite read.

"No, love. Were just... Friends."

Sirius let Remus take over the braiding again, this time only gently correcting him when he picked up the wrong strands.

**

"Can I keep it?" Olivia looked up at Remus with large, pleading eyes, tightly clutching the crusty stray cat she had met while playing on the street and had promptly carried into the foyer.

"No pets! Take the cat outside!" Aisling said sternly and pointed towards the door. Olivia directed her puppy eyes towards her now.

"But it doesn't have a home! And this is a shelter!"

"It is a cat! This is a werewolf shelter!" Aisling said, already a lot less sharp. She threw a look over to Remus, seeking for backup.

Remus knelt down and carefully removed the animal from Olivia's grip.

"Please let go, love. Look, you can't just pick animals off the street like that," he gently explained. "Maybe it does have a home."

Both Aisling and Olivia looked rather sceptical at the emaciated creature. It meowed heartbreakingly and latched onto Remus' jumper.

"See," Olivia said excitedly. "She likes you. Oh, can't we keep her? Pleeeease?"

Remus sighed. This was one of the tough moments of parenthood...

"No," he said firmly. "We will have to take it back outside. But we can start feeding it, if you like...Outside!"

Olivia pouted.

"But I want to keep the kitty!"

The cat looked rather like an old tomcat than a kitty. And it smelled. No way Remus was going to let this thing sleep in Olivia's room. It probably had fleas...

"No," Remus repeated and started to carry the cat back towards the door.

"Nooo! You are so mean! I want to keep the kitty!"

Olivia started wailing and did not stop, following Remus all the way outside. He had to carry her back to her room, kicking and screaming.

"Olivia! You cannot keep the cat, okay?" He placed her down on a chair. "It lives outside. It probably wouldn't even like being in a house."

"It would! You are being mean, like Gilford!"

Remus flinched. Now that was uncalled for!

Despite Remus' and Aisling's many attempts to console her, Olivia kept sulking the entire rest of the day. Throwing whistful glances out the window, looking for Kitty. Remus felt awful. But part of parenting was keeping firm boundaries. He had read this in a parenting guidebook from the library.

When Olivia heard the front door, she dashed out of her room, tearfully storming into Sirius' arms. Remus hurried after her.

"What's wrong, love?" Sirius picked Olivia up with concern. He turned to Remus and Aisling. "Did something happen?"

"She is just mad, because we aren't letting her keep the cat," said Aisling and started to gather her belongings from the reception desk - more than ready to be replaced by Sirius. "She has been sulking all day, so enjoy the night..."

Sirius frowned in confusion.

"What cat?"

"Kitty! They are mean to her because she is dirty!"

Sirius raised a questioning eyebrow at Remus. Remus sighed.

"It is a stray cat she met outside. It looked quite neglected, so I didn't think it would be a good idea to let her keep it."

"But kitty needs a home! She is all by herself! And I want to keep her! Can we, please?" She turned to Sirius, clinging onto his shoulders. Remus took a deep breath to calm himself.

"Olivia! I already said no. There will be no further discussions!"

Sirius set her down, pulling a thoughtful face.

"Why not, though? If she wants to keep the cat, why don't we let her? I don't see the problem with it..."

"Well, you never see problems with anything," Remus murmured. The last thing he needed now, was Sirius playing the fun dad.

"We can't let everyone keep a cat, Sirius," Aisling pitched in and gave Olivia an apologetic look.

"But she is just a kid. She needs a companion..."

"She's got me!" Remus stated, feeling mildly offended.

"Yeah sure, but that's different. She's got no other kids to play with... And if the cat would like to stay..."

"If the cat would like to stay?!" What a ridiculous thing to say. Remus couldn't imagine anyone saying something like that apart from Sirius...

"Well, it wouldn't be fair to just imprison it inside all of a sudden. It would still need to be able to get out. Maybe we could install a cat flap in Olivia's room..."

"Out of the question! Who knows what else would crawl inside!" Remus was shocked that Sirius would even suggest this. He already saw Olivia buried under a nursery of racoons!

"We could secure it magically so it only lets this particular cat through. Can't be that hard..."

"I leave you two to this, I'm out! But if you are doing reconstructions on the building without consulting the board, Gilford will choke you." Aisling waved and rushed out the door, faintly shaking her head.

"A magical cat flap? Really?" Remus crossed his arms. He was pissed. All day he'd had been the mean one, to teach Olivia an important lesson, only for Sirius to turn up and blow his efforts to smithereens!

Remus watched with barely concealed anger how Sirius went to look for Kitty and proceeded to sit down with Olivia in her room to clean up the filthy cat.

"Looks like she has some fleas. What do you think we should do about that?"

"Give her a bath!" Olivia shouted and rushed to fill her bathroom sink.

"That's right! But it needs to be a special bath, so the fleas go away. I'm going to get some stuff from the supply room, don't put Kitty into the water until I'm back!"

When Sirius left the room, Remus followed him, determined to give him a piece of his mind.

"What do you think you are doing?"

Sirius turned around looking innocent.

"Bathing a cat?"

"She can't keep it!"

"Why not?"

"Because I said so!"

Sirius scoffed.

"That is a horrible argument."

"Children need to listen to their parents. She is five! We need to provide guidance at that age! Not let them do whatever they want!"

"You sound like my parents," Sirius spat and unlocked the door to the supply chamber. Remus had a feeling that that was hardly a compliment. And he had about enough of being compared with awful people!

"I am just trying to raise her! That's what you wanted, right? That I take over responsibility. Well, I am! And I don't need you to sabotage me..."

"Sabotage you? I just don't agree with you. What is the issue with her keeping the cat?"

"That she won't ever listen to me again if I say no, because she knows you will override my decision!"

"I'm not...," Sirius paused, turning around from the shelf he'd been inspecting. "I didn't mean to override anything."

Remus let out a breath as his anger quickly subsided at Sirius' change of tone.

"I mean, she just got abandoned by her own parents. That can't be easy for her. And I really think she would benefit from a pet. Don't you agree?"

Remus' heart clenched. Of course he did.

"I...Yes, but..."

"Then don't say no, just for the sake of it."

"I wasn't..."

Sirius raised an eyebrow, but there was none of the usual disparage in his expression.

"Remus...She will listen to you, even if you sometimes revert your decisions. Actually it's way more likely she won't listen to you, if you keep making up pointless rules. Or tell her to listen to you just because. It will only drive her away. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about..."

Remus sighed in defeat.

"I just want to protect her."

"From a cat?" Sirius cocked his head.

"From making rash decisions. People like us can't afford that."

"You made a rash decision when you took her here."

Remus looked up, meeting Sirius' gaze. It was almost magnetic, drawing him towards him.

He sighed and nodded.

"Yes, I did. But I don't like it."

"Then leave the rash decisions to me. I'm not saying we should allow her to do everything she wants. But this is not a threat to her wellbeing. I won't let anything happen to her..."

"Does it have to be this crusty animal though..."

"We'll clean it!"

"Still. What if it scratches her..."

Sirius raised an eyebrow again.

"You see the irony in this conversation, do you? Remus, I run a werewolf shelter program. I don't think someones - or somethings - sheer potential to hurt you should be the indication whether you let it in."

Remus frowned deeply at Sirius' wise words, when he suddenly had an epiphany. He chuckled.

"You are doing this to piss off your parents don't you? I'm sure they aren't a fan of their offspring working at something like this."

Sirius looked taken aback.

"What? I..." His eyes wandered to the ceiling lights. "Well... Maybe. A little. But I think I pissed them off sufficiently even without spending all my assets on a minority support project. I do care about this!"

"I didn't say you didn't. But I did wonder... I mean, Acacia's motivation is her late little sister, Aisling is in it because she witnessed the stigma first hand due to her scratch marks, eventhough she isn't a wolf, Renfred studied law and came across it this way. But Gilford and you are a puzzle to me. How did you even stumble upon this?"

Sirius scoffed.

"Gilford thinks it's unjust. Believe it or not, but he really doesn't like it if things aren't right. And when he got with Justine, he was pretty offended on her behalf..."

"Gilford has a werewolf girlfriend?!"

Wild news. And Sirius was dropping it as if it was something to be expected of the uptight dandy...

"Wife."

"Oh."

"Yep."

Remus nodded, processing the new information and trying to adjust his image of Gilford.

"And you?"

"I don't have a wife."

Remus rolled his eyes.

"Well, I figured. You don't wear a ring..."

"You noticed?" Sirius smirked, causing Remus to blush.

"Your motivation, Sirius. What is it? If it's not youthful rebellion..."

"Oh it's always a little rebellion, I'm afraid. Everything I do. But...Well, I guess Gilford and I aren't that different - at least regarding this. After school, I started Auror training and one of the first hands-on jobs I tagged along on was a "wolf hunt". They had spotted a rampaging werewolf in a village in Kent and our superiors took the chance to demonstrate how to take one down..." Sirius glared at the floor, rubbing his elbows. "Needless to say, I didn't care much for their strategies. They just killed the poor lad... Apparently that's easier than to catch them. And...I never believed in that 'werewolves have no soul' bullshit. They were just killing them like rabid animals! It wasn't...It wasn't right." He sighed. "After that I started to look into the legislation, because I couldn't believe that that could be legal! But it was. And among it, I found so much more...So much bullshit to fight against. So that's what I decided to do..."

"Bullshit like 'parents bear no responsibility for the wellbeing of a lycanthropist child' and are free to abandon them in the woods?"

Sirius nodded.

"Yeah. I'll make sure we'll tackle that one next," he said grimly. He looked back up to Remus. "I'll keep Olivia safe, I promise."

Remus sighed.

"You take responsibility for the bloody cat," he murmured and turned to walk back to the room, where Olivia was tending to Kitty. He had a lump in his throat as he watched her petting its head, quietly reiterating what she had had for dinner. Maybe Sirius was right. At least this time.

**

Remus was reading a book in his room, enjoying his well deserved peace after spending an hour reading Olivia to sleep, when Sirius popped his head in.

"Heading out. If there are any issues with Olivia, send me an owl." Sirius handed Remus a card with an address on it.

"Going to a pub, huh?" Remus mused as he saw the logo. Sirius smirked.

"Mandatory pub night. Can't call out on that." He gave Remus a thoughtful look while he hovered in the doorway. "Do you want to come with me? Might do you good to get out a little..."

Remus huffed. He had no desire to go out whatsoever. On the other hand... The thought of spending the evening with Sirius did have a strange appeal.

"I can't leave Olivia alone."

Sirius' smirk was replaced by a fond smile.

"Don't worry about her. She's in bed."

"And yet you gave me the address of the pub in case something goes wrong."

"Sure, but I'll just give it to Acacia instead. It's her shift and I'm sure she won't mind having an eye out for Olivia."

Remus contemplated it for a second. He didn't exactly have any money to go to a pub.

"Come on, prefect boy, my treat."

Had Sirius read his mind? Maybe he should go. No real excuse not to.

"I don't know anyone there. Won't that be a little weird? I don't think anyone would want me there."

Sirius waved him off.

"Just people from school. They know you and sure will be glad to see you again. And besides that..." Sirius paused and leaned against the door frame, his eyes shooting down to Remus' feet. "I'd want you there. I'm sure you can be great fun if you aren't busy moping around..."

"I'm not moping, I'm..."

"Yeah, yeah whatever. Are you coming or not?" Sirius had already turned to leave and threw him a questioning look over his shoulder. Last chance.

Remus clambered out of his chair, quickly snatching his jacket.

"Yes, wait. I'm coming."

Sirius didn't exactly wait, only slowed down his steps towards the entrance, asking Acacia to check on Olivia every once in a while, before steering towards his motorcycle. Remus stopped in his tracks.

"We are not riding that thing again, are we?"

"Yep, we are. Hop on Lupin."

"But you will be drinking! Isn't that against the law?"

Sirius laughed.

"So is drunk disapparation and yet everyone does it. Besides, I won't drink that much, so chill." He swung his leg over the bench. "We can still decide to take the train back, but we will fly now. Come on!"

Reluctantly, Remus climbed behind Sirius, barely having the time to hold onto him before they set off.

Remus squeezed his eyes shut and wrapped his arms tightly around Sirius, his cheek pressed against his leather jacket. He wondered, whether Sirius could feel his racing heart. He could always claim it was his acrophobia.

"So, how did you guys meet? I mean, again?" James looked back and forth between them. Remus almost choked on his beer.

Things had gone considerably well so far. Sirius' pub group was thankfully not that big and Remus did actually know everyone at the table:

Sitting next to Sirius was James Potter, of course he was there. Remus would have been surprised and concerned if he wouldn't have been. Sirius and him had always been joined at the hip.

Next to James sat Lily Evans. Remus had been genuinely glad to see her as he had been something close to friends with her, during their joined prefect years.

And then, at the opposite side of the table, next to Remus, there was Peter Pettigrew. A friend of James and Sirius that had always been running after them at school and he seemingly hadn't stopped.

The conversations had been nice and they had indeed all enjoyed to catch up a little. Remus had had a good time so far.

But now this.

They couldn't know the truth - his secret.

"We hooked up."

Now Sirius was the one who almost choked, throwing Remus an aghast look over his glass.

"You what?!" James grinned brightly at Sirius and slapped his back jovially.

"Why didn't you tell me that?"

Sirius only pulled a face and hummed apologetically, while taking a large swig of his beer.

Remus wanted to vanish. Why had he said that? This was ridiculous. His wishful thinking had gotten the better of him. As if Sirius would ever hook up with someone like him. He bit the inside of his cheek.

James didn't seem as shocked and surprised as Remus had expected, though. He leaned back in his chair and wrapped an arm around Sirius.

"Looks like I'm not the only one with a thing for prefects, huh?"

Sirius gave him a tortured smile before shooting Remus a barely concealed glare.

Remus found Sirius in front of the pub, smoking. He had excused himself shortly after Remus had blurted out his badly thought out explanation. Probably to avoid further questioning by James and Lily, who both seemed very intrigued by their supposed hookup. Only Peter had eyed Remus with questioning suspicion. He probably wondered what his handsome friend wanted with a bland looking dude like him.

"I'm sorry about this. I just didn't want them to find out." He leaned himself next to Sirius against the brick wall.

Sirius threw him a look from the corner of his eye and pulled on the cigarette, blowing the smoke into the night.

"You couldn't have thought of something else? Like, literally anything else? A hookup, really..."

Remus cringed in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry. I know it's ridiculous. You would never hook up with someone like me..."

Sirius snorted.

"Quit your self loathing bullshit, I don't want to deal with that right now." He took another drag. "I just don't do hookups in general. Nothing to do with you."

Remus frowned. "You don't do hookups? Really?"

Sirius' eyes narrowed. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing!" Remus defensively raised his hands. "I just figured you had options... so why not use them?"

Sirius huffed. "I don't like any of my options."

"Picky, huh?"

"I'm not picky, I just have standards. Not my fault noone is meeting them..." Sirius tapped on his cigarette, sending the ash to the pavement. "I won't waste my time with people that don't deserve it."

Remus nodded quietly, eventhough he found this statement awfully arrogant. But it made some kind of sense. Why would you go see someone that you knew wouldn't do it for you anyways? Remus found himself wondering why Sirius was spending time with him then.

The door to the pub opened and for a second the merry voices mixed with clinking glasses spilled out onto the quiet street, before they faded back out as the door thumped shut again.

James sprang down the few stairs to the street and joined them.

"Ah, there you are Pads." He stopped, looked at Remus and gave them a conspiratorial grin. "Oh, sorry! Am I interrupting something?"

Sirius put out his cigarette and shook his head.

"No. We were finished. Let's go back inside." He lightly nuged Remus' elbow, sending tingles up into his shoulder. What had he done?

"So...how did you hook up then?" James leaned his elbows on the table fixating Remus again. He threw a helpless look to the bar, where Sirius was getting their next round, but he seemed to still be waiting for the pub keepers attention.

"Uhm. We met at a bar." Remus took a nervous sip from his almost empty pint.

"A bar? I didn't know Sirius went to bars? And without me? We always have to drag him out."

Peter nodded vigorously in agreement.

Fuck.

"I don't know, maybe it was a one off thing..."

"And then?" Lily seemed just as determined to get the details as James, obviously trying to squeeze Remus out before Sirius would return and put a stop to it.

"Ah, erm... Well, I... He... I just recognised him and then we got talking."

The two were hanging on his lips, giving him a synchronized encouraging nod.

"And then... We talked about his bike. And then he showed me his bike... And then..." He drew a circle around the rim of his glass. "Well, you can imagine."

"He gave you a ride?" Lily asked with a wicked grin. Remus blushed so hard he was sure he must have looked like a ripe tomato. What was he doing here?

"Lily!" James nuged his girlfriend, but giggled himself. "Oh Padfoot... I really didn't think he'd be like that. He must really like you."

"Maybe he was just really drunk," mumbled Remus into his glas. God, this was awful. Sirius would kill him!

"Hmm maybe, but he liked you enough to bring you around." James grinned knowingly. "That means something."

Remus shrugged, too embarrassed and mortified to talk anymore.

"I'm surprised he even has time for dating, next to his werewolf thing," Peter said. Remus knocked over his empty pint, scrambling to pick it back up.

"Right, did he tell you about that, Remus? You must know, don't you?" Lily turned to him, pretending she hadn't noticed his clumsiness.

"You... You mean the..."

"AWERE. Ambassadors for Werewolf Empowerment and..."

"Resource Establishment. Yes, he told me about that."

James chuckled. "Would have surprised me if he hadn't. He won't shut up about it since he founded it."

"He founded it?" Now, this was new.

"Yes. Did he omit that?"

"Apparently. I knew he was part of the board but I didn't know he was the original founder."

"Well, him and Renfred. But Sirius came up with the name. He's very proud of it."

"Right."

"I just don't think he should invest this much," Peter pitched in. "He barely spends time with us anymore, always has shifts in this shelter thing they run or is busy preparing meetings with the ministry. I mean, they won't change anything anyways so why waste your time."

"I think they could! And they are doing great work actually. If noone ever tries to change anything, everything will stay the same!"

Peter looked a bit startled by Remus sudden enthusiasm, and to be honest, so was he.

Lily nodded encouragingly.

"I agree. It's a good thing that Sirius is doing this. So you've been there then?"

"Uh, yes." Fuck. How was he supposed to answer this without further entangling Sirius and him in lies? Remus turned around to the bar again, seeing Sirius balancing their drinks on a tablet. "I should go and help him!"

He scrambled to his feet and pushed his way towards Sirius, who gave him a questioning look.

"I can manage, thank you."

Remus leaned in and took two glasses of the tablet, almost ruining the careful balance Sirius had created.

"We met in a bar," he whispered.

Sirius raised an eyebrow.

"Did we now?"

"Yes. I chatted you up and you showed me your bike." Sirius looked awfully amused, but nodded, surpressing a grin.

"And when did we meet? Want to keep it cohesive."

"I didn't say that. Three months ago?"

"That's not a hookup anymore."

"Well, I thought you don't do hookups anyways." Remus' traitorous heart started beating in his throat.

Sirius snorted but nodded again. "Fine then. Three months it is."

They reached the table and set down the drinks. Sirius returned to his chair across from Remus, giving him a reprimanding smile and shook his a head a little.

"You can't make me lie to James," Sirius said, on the train home. He had stretched his long legs out in front of him, watching the darkness pass by, through the scratched windows of the tube. "I'm not good at it. He can, like, read my mind."

"Sorry." Remus rubbed his knuckles together. "I didn't mean to get you into trouble."

Sirius snickered.

"Who would have thought that you would get me into trouble. Should be the other way around, really." He nudged Remus' knee. Remus gave him a pressed smile.

"You can just tell them that it didn't work out and we stopped seeing each other after this..."

Sirius looked over, his eyes lingering on Remus' face for a couple heartbeats.

"Maybe I'll do that."

Maybe. Why did he say it like that? Didn't mean anything.

Maybe it does.

Stop it, mom.

[carriesthewind]

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this post for the last few days. (OP’s post, not Diane Duane’s excellent rebuttal, to be clear.) It is wrong - completely, absurdly, fractally wrong. But it is also perniciously wrong, because it is constructed out of grains of truth, common biases, and simplified explanations that flatten a complex world. It is the kind of wrong that may seem correct to someone without external knowledge of the subject (for example, to young people who don’t have a personal memory prior to the mid-2000s), especially because it is told with the kind of authoritative self-confidence that (unfortunately) we tend to unconsciously associate with expertise. It is exactly the kind of post that someone scrolling tumblr might see and assume is interesting and educational, and absorb the assertions (both explicit and implied) of the post into their understanding of the world.

The problem starts with the first line of the post, because there is some level of truth to it. “[P]rior to the mid-2000s, the “Young Adult” genre as we now know it didn’t exist.” This is kind of true, if we generously interpret “as we now know it” as a load-bearing reference not to the YA genre as it actually exists, but to the broad public perception of YA. As Diane Duane makes clear, Young Adult absolutely existed as an established subgenre well before the mid-2000s. The American Library Association established its Young Adult Services Division (now the Young Adult Library Services Association) in 1957, before J.K. Rowling was even born. (And the ALA had already been publishing annual lists of “Best Books for Young Adults” for five years before that!)

The element of truth in this statement comes from the fact that there was a huge boom in attention and sales (and therefore market share and marketing) for YA starting in the early 2000s, (not the mid-2000s, but that that’s a nitpick). (This is also a good point to mention that I am talking mainly about the U.S., and entirely about the english-speaking, market in this post. I do not have enough information to comment on any other markets.) The YA genre “as we now know it” is responsible for a greater proportion of book sales and public attention. If we presume “as we now know it” refers at least in part to the public perception of the subgenre, the market boom also helped solidify certain genre associations in the consciousness of the general public (e.g. paranormal romance, etc.).

This, to be clear, was not really a shift of YA as a genre.* This was shift in the audience (from mostly teens to an increasing number of adults), and an accompanying shift in the market. (It's also worth emphasizing that all genres, including YA, evolve and change. If YA today looked exactly like it did 20 years ago, that would be very unusual!)

*Although there is an interesting argument that can be made that the marking shift ultimately lead to the creation of the “New Adult” subgenre, as the marketing shift brought more adults into the market. This in turn created a market for books which are thematically and stylistically adult novels, and are marketed toward adults, but are specifically marketed as “YA for adults.” (I also know I'm simplifying New Adult way too much here, this is already too long, sorry!)

All of which is to say, the first sentence isn’t really correct, but there is a reasonable interpretation of it (again, with “as we now know it” being the load bearing clause) that resembles reality.

And this is a problem, because, as previously stated, the relevant shift in YA was a market shift with a related shift in public perception. So people who are not familiar with the nature and history of YA (the subject matter of OP’s post) are more likely to only understand that subject through the lens of that market shift. Which means that the less familiar a reader is with the subject matter of the post, the more likely the first statement is to sound true, and the more credibility it lends the rest of the post.

And unfortunately, the rest of the first paragraph of OP’s post is objectively, offensively, untrue. It also destroys the good faith reading of the first sentence in which “as we now know it” is load bearing. Apparently, before the mid-2000s, the YA landscape didn’t just look different - “[t]he expectation was that you would graduate to the adult aisle of the book store at, like, 13-14. This worked because the only people still reading long form novels into their teens were precocious bookworms who were better read than their parents.” The YA genre didn’t have a market shift starting in the early 2000s - it didn’t exist at all!

(I admit, I was rather shocked to learn from this post that my mother was actually unemployed in the 1990s and early 2000s, rather than being a teen librarian and reviewing YA literature for a major publication, because apparently all the teens either stopped reading at 14 or went straight to adult books.)

This claim is wrong on so many levels. The only way this claim could possibly resemble anyone’s lived reality would be if they were a well-educated but very sheltered upper-class white teenager…in the mid-1960s. (Who had yet to hear about this exciting new book called The Outsiders!). But even more offensive than the detachment from reality is the simultaneous self-aggrandizement and the scorn for other teenagers.* OP implies that they have personal knowledge of the supposed state of affairs where smart teens went straight to the adult section at 14 and most teens were dumb “normies” who didn’t read.** And through their language choices, they clearly position themself as one of the well-read “precocious bookworms" who is far too good for YA.***

*I have no knowledge of OP's current age; however, if they are not now a teenager, they were, presumably, one in the past.

**A bit of a digression, but I’ve always found the use of the term “graduate” in this context particularly grating. When I started reading teen, then adult books, I didn’t stop reading or appreciating children’s, and then teen, books. Because OP has the maturity of a child, regardless of their actual age, they make it explicit later that they think the only “mature” themes present in YA are surface-level prurient appeals to sex, drugs, and violence. Speaking personally, just sticking with the Young Wizards series, A Wizard’s Dilemma has and does continue to mean so much to me, in ways that I can not appropriately or adequately expressed in this context.

***I read this post out loud to my mother, because I enjoy making her suffer. After the first paragraph, I told her that the post was building to a thesis, and I asked her to guess, based on just the first paragraph, who or what OP attacked and derided in the last sentence. She answered, without a moment’s pause, “the Twilight books.”

Moving to the second paragraph of OP’s post, again, the first sentence, in isolation, (if we could still read OP’s post with the assumption that they were talking about a market shift) isn’t entirely untrue. Even then, I think it would be overstating the importance of Harry Potter to the market shift - but the popularity of those books, and the accompanying increase in adult readership of books marked for children was absolutely a major factor. Alas, OP’s post is actually claiming here that YA as a distinct genre was invented after the publication of Harry Potter.

The next sentence is equally incorrect, but more importantly, it again really emphasizes the assertion both that the “new” market created by Harry Potter was selling to “normie” kids and the industry hadn’t previously sold full length children’s and YA novels.* The following sentence, for the first time, almost manages to be straightforwardly correct. Unfortunately, it is only correct up to the semicolon. “[T]he target audience [for the early Harry Potter books] was a bit younger than what we think of as the YA demographic,” is a true statement. However, OP’s post then clarifies, “tweens, rather than teens.” And unfortunately, that clarification reveals a shocking ignorant, considering that OP is presenting themselves as knowledgeable on the subject. First, the target audience for the first Harry Potter books wasn’t tweens - it was children. The style, structure, and themes are the book are very much a children’s novel with a target audience of around 8-10 for the first book.** Second, tweens are very much included in the widely-accepted YA demographic (generally 12-18, but it can include people older and younger that range). Just, a shockingly incurious statement.

*The first four books of the Young Wizards Series were published before Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was published. A few other "full length" novels that were published before Harry Potter: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz; A Wrinkle in Time; A Wizard of Earthsea; Alanna: The First Adventure; The Golden Compass; The Giver; and I think I’ve made my point.

**A very broad rule of thumb for children’s books is that the main character will often be approximately two years older than the primary target age; that holds true for the first few Harry Potter books.

I was originally going to say more about how wrong the rest of the second paragraph is, but at this point, I think it would be reductive. I will limit myself to two points: first, again, OP’s post makes it clear that they think the YA genre was literally created for the first time in the mid-2000s. Second, parents who are uncomfortable with their teenagers reading books that contain sex and drugs can be grouped into three broad categories:

1) Parents that would prefer their kids not read books with those things, but are willing to overlook it because hey, at least their kid is reading. This group is irrelevant to the thesis of OP’s post.

2) Parents who will try to prevent their kids from reading books that include sex and drugs, but don’t actually read the books themselves and instead rely on marketing indications and what other parents or authorities in their social group tell them to weed out “inappropriate” books. These parents are irrelevant to the thesis of OP’s post, because the novels themselves can contain all sorts of blatant explicit material without this category of parents catching on. You don’t need to create a new genre - in fact, the more a book looks like a children’s book, rather than YA, the easier it is.

3) Parents who are determined to prevent their kids from reading anything outside of a narrowly construed bubble and will physically prevent them from doing otherwise. These parents are irrelevant to the thesis of OP’s post, because it doesn’t matter how discrete the references are, the parents aren’t letting their kids read anything outside the bubble.

In short, the entire logic underlying the thesis of OP’s post has zero basis in reality, even before you get to the fact that, again, the YA genre had already not only existed, but flourished, for decades.

Instead, I want to focus more on the offensive disdain in this paragraph, and in the final paragraph. On the repeated emphasis on “normie” kids and “normie” parents. On the idea that the market for the YA genre didn’t and couldn’t come from a market of teens who were generally interested in reading books about themes and issues relevant to them, but that it must have been created as a marketing gimmick. That publishers create a synthetic market from kids who weren’t really interested in reading, but were just interested in sex and drugs.* The idea that the difference between novels for children and novels for adult is the amount of drugs and sex - and more broadly, the apparent idea sex and drugs are the only mature themes that teens might be interested in.** And then the slip up in referring to adult novels as “fully adult novels.”

*Funnily enough, the 'seduced by the allure of sex and drugs story' is a staple plot of the classic YA problem novel. Since there is no indication that OP actually has any awareness of the genre they are discussing, they would likely be unaware of this parallel.

**If OP had any actual knowledge of the subject at hand, they would know that teens thrill-reading books for deviant depictions of sex and violence don’t read Twilight or other YA books - they go to the adult section and read V.C. Andrews.

 The distinction that OP’s post began to make in the first paragraph is fleshed out - “fully adult novels” are serious novels, legitimate novels, and are the domain of the well-read and the "precocious bookworms," not “normie” children or their “normie” parents (because remember, the children reading adult novels are “better read than their parents,” and “the only people still reading long form novels” after age 13 are the precocious bookworms). “Normies” didn’t read full-length novels until the industry invented YA as a marketing gimmick, but because “normies” aren’t interested in real adult novels, these aren’t legitimate books with themes or plots or characters that exist in their own right. They are secret delivery systems for sex and drugs. Books without sex and drugs and violence will fail because “normies” don’t actually read YA for the sake of anything but their immature prurient interests. (Which is why both the Harry Potter Series and the Young Wizards Series ultimately failed, as teens lost all interest in both of those series.) Likewise, books with too much sex and drugs and violence fail because the whole genre is just a marketing gimmick to sneak past parents, which is why teens don’t read Judy Blume and she had no success as a YA author.*

*Sorry, my mistake, she can’t be a YA author, since of all her YA novels were published before 2000.

And then we get to the kicker, the culmination of the post's thesis. “And so, it should come as no surprise, that the first person to successfully navigate this tight rope was a Mormon housewife with a vampire fetish.” The point of this whole post was an argument that books like Twilight are illegitimate novels, PG-13 “mommy porn,”* constructed by the publishing industry to create inauthentic demand, only read by stupid teenage girls who would and will never read real, fully adult novels.

*Just to be clear - I hate that term and I am only using it here not to express my own opinion, but because OP’s post drips with the a disdain for female sexuality that is crystalized in that phrase.

And this is ultimately what pisses me off so much about about this post, and why I can’t get it out of my head. The OP’s whole post has just enough truth, just enough of a connection to reality that people who aren’t familiar with the subject matter can reasonably think it is a correct and authoritative analysis. And it wraps its conclusion in a bit of humor, designed to get a laugh and a reblog.

But it’s not laughing with people - it’s laughing at the “normies” who like Twilight. It is a post that is designed to justify deriding anyone who enjoys YA, especially “normie” YA, a definition it carefully constructs to mean “things teen girls like” without every having to say those words, which would give the game away.*

*It is entirely possible that OP is or was a teen girl. This would not prevent them from perpetrating vicious misogyny against that group and their interests. After all, some girls can be part of the group who are “precocious bookworms” who read “real” books, who are Not Like Other Girls.

It is not merely wrong; it is using its wrongness to conceal and cloak its misogyny and contempt. It divides the world into two groups: those whose tastes in literature are valid, and those whose tastes are not. It is factually incorrect to such a shocking degree that it indicates an absolute refusal to interact with the reality of the world as it is, rather than a fantasy that conforms to OP’s existing biases. It is a distortion of real and complex and interesting history of a genre. It is an insult to every reader and writer of YA. It is ignorant, and incurious, and above all, cruel. 

So, like, the thing you have to understand is that prior to the mid-2000s, the "Young Adult" genre as we now know it didn't exist. The expectation was that you would graduate to the adult aisle of the book store at, like, 13-14. This worked because the only people still reading long form novels into their teens were precocious bookworms who were better read than their parents.

Harry Potter changed all this. The success of the Harry Potter books convinced the publishing industry that selling full length novels to normie children was a business model. The thing about the Harry Potter books, though, is that at least for the early books, the target audience was a bit younger than what we think of as the YA demographic; tweens, rather than teens. Now, the publishing very much wanted to keep all these normie kids buying books into their teens and beyond, but the previous model of treating teens as functionally adults for marketing purposes would not work; there was simply no way that normie parents were going to let their normie kids read fully adult novels where the characters, like, do drugs or have unprotected sex and stuff. So, in order to be allowed to market to the teen demographic, the YA genre was created.

However, teens have an inherent interest in reading about sex and violence and drugs, and so authors who are able to incorporate these kinds of themes into their YA novels in a discrete way such that it flies under the radar of the moral guardians are met with success. But this is a precarious tightrope to walk. Not enough "mature" themes and the teens will loose interest, to much or to blatant and the teens won't be allowed to read it. And so, it should come as no surprise, that the first person to successfully navigate this tight rope was a Mormon housewife with a vampire fetish.

[lboogie1906]

Dr. Carla Diane Hayden (August 10, 1952) is the fourteenth librarian of the US Library of Congress. Her swearing-in as librarian was the first time a woman and an African American was appointed to the position. This is the first time in more than sixty years that a professional librarian has been confirmed for the post.

She was born in Tallahassee. She received her BA from Roosevelt University. Both MA and Ph.D. in Library Science are from the University of Chicago’s Graduate Library School.

Her career spans over forty years. Her career began with the Chicago Public Library where she served as the children’s librarian and library associate. She moved up to the young adult services coordinator. The University of Pittsburgh hired her as an assistant professor for Library and Information Science. She was the deputy commissioner and chief librarian of the Chicago Public Library. Her last position before being nominated as librarian of Congress was that of CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore. She served as the president of the American Library Association, during a time when libraries across the US were experiencing fiscal challenges.

She became the first African American to receive the Library Journal’s Librarian of the Year Award. This award was given for the outreach services she made available at Pratt Library. The services included an after-school center for Baltimore teens that offered homework assistance and college and career counseling.

President Barack Obama nominated her for the position of Librarian of Congress on February 24, 2016. The United States Senate confirmed her nomination on July 13, 2016. She was sworn in on September 14, 2016. President Abraham Lincoln’s Bible was used for the ceremony, and her mom was the person holding it during her swearing-in. Speaking on the significance of her historic feat during the swearing-in ceremony, she said: “People of my race were once punished and worse for learning to read, and as a descendent of people who were denied the right to read, and now have the opportunity to serve the institution that is now the symbol of knowledge is a historic moment.” #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[music-industry-updates]

Streaming Services: The Unsung Heroes in the Fight Against Music Piracy?

The music industry has faced significant challenges due to piracy, leading to substantial revenue losses and affecting the livelihoods of artists. The rise of streaming services has been heralded as a potential solution. But are streaming services truly the unsung heroes in the fight against music piracy? This article examines the role of streaming platforms in combating piracy and their broader impact on the industry.

As the digital revolution took hold in the late 1990s, the music industry found itself grappling with a new and formidable foe: music piracy. Platforms like Napster and LimeWire made it easy for users to share music files, leading to billions of dollars in lost revenue and a significant devaluation of creative work. Enter streaming services—these platforms promised a legal, user-friendly way to access vast music libraries. But can they really turn the tide against piracy and restore balance to the industry? This in-depth analysis explores how streaming services are tackling this issue and what it means for the future of music.

The Impact of Music Piracy

Music piracy reached its peak in the late 1990s and early 2000s, facilitated by P2P file-sharing networks such as Napster and LimeWire. These platforms allowed users to share and download music for free, causing significant revenue losses for the music industry and devaluing artistic work.

Napster, launched in 1999, was a groundbreaking platform that revolutionized the way people accessed music. It allowed users to share MP3 files directly, leading to a surge in illegal downloads. Despite legal battles that eventually shut down Napster in 2001, the concept had already taken root. Other P2P networks like LimeWire and Kazaa quickly filled the void, perpetuating the problem and making it difficult for the industry to recover. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), global music sales plummeted by nearly half from 1999 to 2009, a testament to the devastating impact of piracy.

The Advent of Streaming Services

Streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music emerged as legal and convenient alternatives to piracy. By offering unlimited access to vast music libraries for a monthly subscription fee, these platforms provided an attractive option for consumers. The ability to stream music on-demand reduced the incentive to engage in illegal downloads.

Spotify, launched in 2008, was a pioneer in this space, offering a freemium model where users could access music for free with ads or subscribe for an ad-free experience. This model addressed the core issues driving piracy: cost and convenience. Apple Music, which launched in 2015, integrated seamlessly with users' existing iTunes libraries and offered exclusive content, further enhancing its appeal. Amazon Music and other competitors have since entered the market, each bringing unique features and broadening the reach of legal streaming options.

Decline in Piracy Rates

Research indicates that the availability of streaming services has contributed to a decline in music piracy. According to the IFPI, piracy rates have decreased in regions with high streaming penetration. This suggests that streaming services are playing a crucial role in reducing the prevalence of illegal music downloads.

A 2019 study by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) found that increased streaming subscriptions correlated with a decrease in illegal downloads. The study highlighted that the availability of affordable and convenient streaming options made piracy less attractive to consumers. Furthermore, the MusicWatch study in 2020 reported that 77% of young adults (aged 16-24) preferred streaming to illegal downloads, indicating a significant shift in consumer behavior driven by the ease and accessibility of streaming platforms.

Economic Considerations for Artists

Despite the reduction in piracy, the economic implications for artists remain a topic of debate. Many musicians argue that the royalties paid by streaming services are insufficient. The revenue distribution model often favors major labels and top-tier artists, leaving independent musicians with minimal earnings.

Artists typically earn between $0.003 and $0.005 per stream on Spotify, meaning they need millions of streams to make a significant income. This has led to widespread criticism and calls for a more equitable distribution of streaming revenue. Major labels, which often own shares in these streaming platforms, benefit the most, while independent musicians struggle to make ends meet. The lack of transparency in how streaming revenue is calculated and distributed has further fueled discontent among artists.

Legislative and Technological Efforts

In addition to the rise of streaming services, legislative measures and technological advancements have played a role in combating piracy. Anti-piracy laws and digital rights management (DRM) technologies have made it more difficult for individuals to share music illegally. The Music Modernization Act (MMA) in the United States, for example, aims to ensure fair compensation for artists and streamline licensing processes.

The MMA introduced a blanket mechanical license for digital music providers and established a centralized database to ensure songwriters are properly compensated. Similarly, advancements in DRM technologies have helped prevent unauthorized copying and distribution of music. These measures, combined with the availability of legal streaming options, have created a more robust framework for combating piracy. However, the enforcement of anti-piracy laws remains a challenge, particularly in regions with less stringent regulations.

Shifting Consumer Preferences

The convenience and affordability of streaming services have significantly influenced consumer behavior. Younger generations, in particular, prefer streaming over purchasing physical albums or digital downloads. This shift in consumer preferences has played a critical role in reducing the prevalence of piracy. Streaming services offer a seamless user experience with curated playlists, personalized recommendations, and access to music on multiple devices.

Surveys show that Millennials and Gen Z consumers prefer streaming due to its ease of use, personalized recommendations, and extensive music libraries. The ability to create and share playlists, discover new artists, and enjoy music on multiple devices has made streaming the preferred choice for these demographics. This shift has played a critical role in reducing the prevalence of piracy, as legal streaming provides a superior user experience compared to illegal downloads.

Future Prospects and Challenges

Despite the positive impact of streaming services, several challenges remain. The issue of fair compensation for artists continues to be a major concern. Many musicians feel that the current royalty model is unsustainable and fails to reflect the true value of their work. Additionally, while piracy has decreased, it has not been eliminated entirely. Some users still turn to illegal downloads for various reasons, including access to exclusive content not available on streaming platforms.

To address these challenges, streaming services need to continue innovating and improving their models to ensure fair compensation for artists. This could include revising royalty structures, enhancing transparency, and exploring new revenue streams. Furthermore, ongoing efforts to enforce anti-piracy laws and educate consumers about the importance of supporting legal music sources are crucial for sustaining progress. The development of blockchain technology for transparent and secure music rights management could also play a significant role in ensuring fair compensation for artists in the future.

Streaming services have undoubtedly made significant strides in reducing music piracy, offering a legal and convenient alternative that appeals to modern consumers. However, they are not a panacea. The music industry must continue to address the challenges of fair artist compensation and residual piracy issues. A multifaceted approach that includes technological innovations, legislative support, and fair business practices is essential for creating a sustainable and equitable future for music creators and consumers alike.

Streaming services represent a significant step forward in combating music piracy, providing a legal and user-friendly alternative to illegal downloads. However, the journey towards a fair and piracy-free music industry is ongoing. By addressing the economic concerns of artists and continuing to innovate, streaming platforms can play a pivotal role in shaping the future of music consumption.

How do you perceive the role of streaming services in combating music piracy? Do you think they offer fair compensation to artists? Join the conversation and share your insights in the comments below. Follow for more industry insights and updates! How has your music listening experience changed with the rise of streaming services? Do you believe more can be done to combat music piracy? Join the conversation and let us know your views!

[missmickiescorner]

It's a bird, it's a plane—

It's—

One of the best pieces of pro-library propaganda ever put to animated children's television.

On tonight's episode of "What You Are Looking For Is In the Library," we'll be taking a look at Advocacy—what it is, what it isn't, and who it helps (hint: your local library was made possible by viewers like you 🫵🏽)

Thanks to some great marketing (like you see above) the library—as a global information organization—has been immensely successful in establishing itself as a neighborhood or community landmark...and much less fortunate in being able to convince the powers that be of its continued necessity in the twenty-first century.

From personal experience, I can say that I don't think I've ever not known what a library is. While at a young age, my ability to articulate why the library was useful would be limited to, "because that's where the books are," I can see as an adult that as we move towards a rapidly advancing technological society that has embraced an odd pursuit of anti-intellectualism; the outdated—but commonheld—ideas about what the library is and does unfortunately inform the public about its usefulness. 

Said another way, there is a prevalent misconception that the library is an old building, with old librarians, with old books that nobody reads because we all have cellphones and everything is moving online...that can—in part—be addressed with more advocacy by and on behalf of library professionals and organizations to remind the public of all libraries have been and all they can continue to be in the lives of twenty-first century patrons.

So if a playful bop about the fun of library cards was the pro-library advocacy of the early 2000s, what does advocacy look like over twenty years later? 

We have librarians like Mychal Threets who utilize social media to let people know about what services libraries currently offer; campaigns and protests to see that library's receive proper funding; online information organizations going to bat to fight for the right to provide free access to information and many, many, more—all done in hopes of supporting the center of information services in the community.

To summarize,

What Advocacy Is

Building relationships with the local community.

Showcasing library/information services.

Securing support (of both monetary and non-monetary value) that will enable the library/information organization to continue operating to the best of its ability. 

What Advocacy Isn't

Politically motivated.

Simply about money/funding.

Pointless.

Impossible.

Bibliography

Nemec-Loise, J. (2016). Top Ten Advocacy Myths–Busted!Links to an external site. Children & Libraries: The Journal of the  Association for Library Service to Children, 14(1), 34–35. https://journals.ala.org/index.php/cal/article/view/5924/7497Links to an external site.

PBS KIDS. (2023, August 22). Arthur | SING ALONG: Library Card Song | PBS KIDS [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRTdmmdEuRM

Sweeney, P. “PC.” (2022). Advocacy. In Information services today : an introduction (Third edition., pp. 388–396). essay, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Incorporated.

Staff, B. (2024, February 27). “mychal the librarian” set to collaborate with PBS Kids in Social Media Series. Because of Them We Can. https://www.becauseofthemwecan.com/blogs/the-feels/mychal-threets-pbs-kids-collaboration

NYC’s Public Libraries Call for Reversal of $58.3M in Proposed Budget Cuts  | The New York Public Library. (n.d.). The New York Public Library. https://www.nypl.org/press/nycs-public-libraries-call-reversal-583m-proposed-budget-cuts

Freeland, C. (2024, April 19). Internet Archive Stands Firm on Library Digital Rights in Final Brief of Hachette v. Internet Archive Lawsuit. Internet Archive Blogs. https://blog.archive.org/2024/04/19/internet-archive-stands-firm-on-library-digital-rights-in-final-brief-of-hachette-v-internet-archive-lawsuit/

[ljaesch]

The Insomniacs After School Manga Makes YALSA's 2024 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top 10 List

The American Library Association’s (ALA’s) Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has released its 2024 list of Great Graphic Novels for Teens and the first two volumes of Makoto Ojiro’s Insomniacs After School manga made the top 10. The full 2024 Great Graphic Novels for Teens list also includes the following manga: Akane-banashi Volume 1 by Yūki Suenaga and Takamasa Moue Break of…

[carolemugaisi]

How to Foster a Love for Reading in Young Children, as per Carole Mugaisi

Carole Mugaisi

How to Foster a Love for Reading in Young Children, as per Carole Mugaisi

Reading can open up a whole new world of discovery and enrich our lives in many ways - it improves language skills, provides health benefits, and even increases happiness levels!

Children are most likely to develop an interest in reading when they witness adults around them enjoying books. Make sure books are readily available and encourage others in their life to read with your child as well.

Find Books That Match Their Interests

According to some, those who claim they don't like reading are probably just looking for the right book. No matter your child's interest - animals, outer space, music, or humor - at least one book will likely capture them. Take your children shopping at school or local libraries until you find one that matches what interests them best! This makes reading enjoyable for them, gives them ownership over what they're reading, and creates a love of reading!

Once they've discovered some titles they enjoy, encourage them to start their home collection of books. This will teach them responsibility while further encouraging their interest in reading. Also, consider ensuring they have access to various forms of literature: library cards or audiobook subscription services may be ideal options when they reach age 18.

As your children grow, please encourage them to join a book club with other children their age. This will allow them to socialize over books while learning to discuss them within a group setting and build confidence when talking in front of people.

Another enjoyable activity for children is viewing a movie version of one of their favorite books. Not only will this expose them to new titles, but many children request rereading the book afterward so they can fully absorb and comprehend its material.

As per Carole Mugaisi, take your child to see an author when they visit town; this can introduce them to new books while giving them the unique experience of meeting and talking directly about their writing process.

Reading begins at home, so your child must develop a love for reading with you as a family. Spend time together or alone reading together every day - be sure to include books with diverse characters and topics!

Read Aloud Together

Reading aloud to children is one of the best ways parents and caregivers can encourage children to love reading. Reading aloud models the behavior of reading for enjoyment rather than content, allowing children to discuss relatable stories and characters while developing empathy towards those depicted within books.

Reading out loud together can be a relaxing and bonding experience for both parent and child, particularly young children who may find comfort and security from having someone to hear what they have read aloud (other than grandparents and other family members). Reading aloud may also provide new students with their first school experience with an audience of one instead of having grandparents as audiences (instead of grandparents and other relatives) for whom to read aloud. Parents have an opportunity to model healthy, positive associations between books and learning and their children's reading-aloud experience with healthy relationships between reading aloud together!

Carole Mugaisi mentions that when selecting books for young children, prioritize those that feature bright pictures and engaging characters. Children delight in turning the pages and running their fingers over the words as they read aloud, making predictions about what might happen next in the story. When selecting emergent readers, books with rhyme, repetition, and humor are ideal; humor allows them to forget worries while listening, while rhyme repetition is essential in developing phonemic awareness (the initial step toward reading).

Reading aloud for older students can be an effective way to strengthen vocabulary development, fluency, and pronunciation practice, build confidence in their reading skills, and share the joy of literature with their classmates.

To help students feel more at ease reading aloud, create a "reading zone" in your home. This could include setting aside an area or time of the day dedicated explicitly to reading together. If this is not feasible, try visiting local bookstores and libraries together - many librarians and store owners are always more than willing to suggest new titles that might suit the interests of your children!

Make Reading a Part of Your Daily Routine

Carole Mugaisi says reading for pleasure can help improve vocabulary, explore unfamiliar topics, and spark creativity and imagination. Reading can also play an essential part in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and help your children feel secure in school; family reading time together also strengthens bonds as readers make new friends who love books!

We must create an inviting and comfortable reading environment to encourage children to read. From creating a reading nook in their bedroom to stocking enough comfortable pillows for family snuggle sessions - creating the ideal reading atmosphere is critical for encouraging kids to pick up reading!

Please encourage your children to participate in the reading process by getting them involved with reading aloud to each other and you. Please give them the freedom to act out scenes, use different voices for characters, and narrate as they read aloud; it gives them ownership over the book while simultaneously building confidence as readers.

An inclusive library is also essential, with books that feature characters of diverse races, religions, and sexual orientations that your students can relate to as part of building empathy and understanding for all experiences.

Carole Mugaisi suggests that you make reading part of your daily routine, whether making story time part of your bedtime ritual or setting aside 15 minutes every day just for reading with your child. Reading should be seen as a regular activity that can be enjoyed regardless of age or ability level.

If you're having difficulty selecting books to share with your children, contact their teachers or librarians for help selecting new titles. They are sure to have recommendations they would love to share! Also, consider exploring local bookshops or attending story time sessions at your library for even more exciting options!

Encourage Your Child to Share Their Favorite Books

Children who feel connected to the books they read will likely continue reading them, whether that means making space in your home for a cozy book nook, attending library storytime and children's book clubs, or simply encouraging kids to share their favorite titles among friends - make reading an experience shared among everyone involved!

Ensure your child can quickly grab a book when bored or feeling down, even if they can't read yet, even if it reminds them of your love of reading and encourages them to try again. Apps may provide access to books or magazines; however, your child should also have the physical copy as an anchor point.

Keep books visible in high-traffic areas of your house, especially the living space. Create a reading corner for older children who prefer reading alone but be wary not to turn it into an empty corner, as noted by Carole Mugaisi. If your child keeps picking up the same book repeatedly, try switching it out by leaving different ones visible for them to pick from.

Getting children to talk about the books they're reading- why they like or don't- will help build their vocabulary, engage them in reading, and deepen their comprehension of the text. If your child can't articulate why they enjoy a particular book, ask them to write their thoughts down on paper and put it in their backpack or lunchbox for easy reference later.   

Sometimes, it's easy to overlook nonfiction books when encouraging our children to enjoy fiction, but many young students spend up to 50% of their reading time reading nonfiction texts. So, make sure your child has access to both types of books at home and that they read about topics that interest them, such as dinosaurs or geography.

[the-merry-librarian]

The Girl from the Sea is a romantic, mystical little coming-of-age story, centering on fifteen-year-old Morgan Kwon as she navigates being a high schooler, the child of a divorce, and—although she can’t let anyone, anyone find out—preferring girls to boys. When a mysterious girl saves Morgan from drowning after an accident on a rainy night, Morgan’s world abruptly changes, and she finds it more challenging than ever to keep all the parts of her life in their neat, separate boxes.

Genre: Fiction, Graphic Novel

Target Age Group:

Ages 12-18 (Grades 7-12)

Justification:

While I’ve never read much of Molly Knox Ostertag’s work, her name is familiar to me, both as a library worker and—to be quite frank—as a queer person on the internet. (Ostertag’s wife is ND Stevenson, creator and executive producer of Netflix’s She-Ra reboot; Stevenson has been vocal about Ostertag’s influence on the show.) I’ve noticed this book a few times, and since it has so many of the things I love (gay youth! beautiful art! Irish mythology!), I was ecstatic to find it on the 2022 Top Ten list of ALA Great Graphic Novels for Teens.

Evaluation:

For this review, I will be evaluating illustrations, plot, and tension/mood. Ostertag’s art is colorful and fluid, and beautifully laid out; she uses color intelligently and intuitively to invoke moods like calm, fear and anger—soothing shades, vivid cool tones and warm hues. Layout and composition is used to great effect—some of my favorite panels from this novel were scenes of Morgan and her mysterious new girlfriend enjoying themselves neighboring panels of Morgan’s friends talking to each other without any response from Morgan. In terms of plot, I found this a very charming coming-of-age story, with a mythical twist. Aside from the mythological elements, which draw from Irish selkie lore, the story at its core is a story about growing up and, I think, being scared to do so; Morgan is more than anything afraid, and is constantly hiding her secrets from her family and her friends. Though in the end she finds the courage to open up to both groups, Morgan’s fear of ostracism and of what it means to be someone different is very relatable to what I remember of my teens. This story is only emphasized by the mythology present in the novel, and in some ways, the parallel of choosing to wear or shed one’s skin applies to both Morgan and the selkies. Both the plot and Ostertag’s art work, with great affect, to provide great tension and mood; while both Morgan and her new girlfriend have secrets and plans of their own, they’re each revealed one by one throughout the story—Morgan is at one point outed to her family by her brother, and the reader learns the mysterious girl’s real reason for approaching Morgan long before Morgan ever does. The pages of Morgan’s group text juxtaposed against her actions in real life is a wonderfully effective way to show that tension: Morgan’s friends all wonder what she’s doing, doing their best to include her and speculating what could be keeping her so quiet, and have no idea that she’s so busy spending time with another girl. (Spoilers: they’re fine with the girlfriend, but not so much the hiding.) The Girl from the Sea was a delicious read—like I said before, it includes so much of the things I love that I don’t think I had a chance not to like it. I would definitely recommend it to young queer teens, but I plan to find a copy of my own to take home.

References:

2022 great graphic novels for Teens top ten. Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). (2022, February 7). https://www.ala.org/yalsa/2022-great-graphic-novels-teens-top-ten The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag. The Scholastic Parent Store. (n.d.). https://shop.scholastic.com/parent-ecommerce/books/the-girl-from-the-sea-9781338540574.html Ostertag, M. K. (2021). The Girl from the Sea (M.K. Ostertag, Illus.). Graphix.

[thisbookisbanned]

Just attended the YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) Symposium. Jason Reynolds was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award, honoring his significant and lasting contribution to writing for teens. His books: When I was the Greatest, The Boy in the Black Suit, All American Boys, Ghost, and Long Way Down were specifically recognized. Reynolds’ books are well-worth the read, and more than deserving of the award he just received. And he's a heck of a nice guy, which makes it that much better.

ThisBookisBanned.com

#YALSA2023

[pashterlengkap]

LGBTQ+ allies defeated book banners in two contentious library meetings

Free-speech advocates defeated anti-LGBTQ+ book banners in two showdowns in Colorado and Arizona this week. In Colorado, the board of trustees for Douglas County Libraries voted to keep four contested LGBTQ+ books on the shelves after a standing-room-only debate over the books’ appropriateness for readers under the age of 18. --- Related Stories Community bands together & shuts down LGBTQ+ book-banning effort After the board voted against the proposal, hundreds applauded their decision. --- The books under contention were the children’s picture book The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish; the Black queer coming-of-age memoir All Boys Aren’t Blue; the teen resource title This Book is Gay; and the young adult mystery Jack of Hearts. Though the last three titles include mentions of sex, none include explicit sexual scenes. Get the Daily Brief The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you. Nonetheless, resident Aaron Wood filed four appeals looking to get the books removed from shelves. “I’m not out to demonize a particular community and, honestly, I believe this has a disadvantage for the LGBT community, because I would be opposed to heterosexual content that would put sexual perversion or sexual acts in front of children,” Wood told KDVR. The state LGBTQ+ organization One Colorado said that it would continue to monitor state book-banning debates “to ensure that access to diverse communities through books.” Meanwhile, in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, pro-LGBTQ+ free speech advocates vastly outnumbered anti-LGBTQ+ protestors in a Monday night meeting of the Rio Rancho Public Library. The anti-LGBTQ+ group New Mexico Mass Resistance had published a tweet encouraging people to attend the meeting. The tweet included an image of two figures having anal sex and the following message: “The American Library Association (ALA) wants to destroy the heterosexual nuclear family…. Stop being afraid of evil. Speak the truth. Mass Resistance has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The group has accused LGBTQ+ activists of “pushing perversion on our kids” and “trying to get legislation passed to allow sex with animals.” Anti-LGBTQ+ conservative groups have opposed the ALA, claiming that it supports child access to “pornography” in libraries and schools. .@nmstatelibrary .@edrabinski .@MassResistance pic.twitter.com/A71PBDCjmR— New Mexico MassResistance (@NM_MassResist) August 8, 2023 Though the library hadn’t planned to discuss censorship at its meeting, all 20 speakers made public comments against book banning, KOB-TV reported. “The books [Mass Resistance] may not want their children to read, I might want my children to read. So they can certainly control it at home, but they shouldn’t restrict these books, and make choices for everybody about what books people should read or not read,” said Willie Orr, a member of the progressive political group Indivisible Albuquerque. Anti-LGBTQ+ book-banning advocates attended a Rio Rancho City Council meeting in April 2023. At the time, council members reminded citizens that they could fill out a “request for reconsideration” form to challenge any books on library shelves. However, Jason Shoup, Rio Rancho’s director of Library and Information Services, told the aforementioned news station, “We have not had a single one of those requests in this calendar year. We have not seen a single one.” In the United States, bans on LGBTQ+ books are “escalating dramatically,” according to the free-speech organization PEN America. The bans have largely come from Republican politicians, conservative school boards, and so-called “parents’ rights” groups that have opposed such content as “woke indoctrination” that’s “inappropriate” for school children. http://dlvr.it/SvGrLt

[strontiumsun]

The Awesome ALA Conference!

I had an incredible experience tabling at the annual American Library Association (ALA) Conference! I was with my friends' collective Strange Deer Press at the Zine Pavilion. This was a super cool opportunity for local Chicago zinesters to sell their wares to librarians and get into the conference for free!

The ALA Conference was unlike any con or expo I've been to.

It's a major event for the library industry. Librarians from all across the country were in attendance. Major book publishers like Macmillan, Hatchette and Simon & Schuster had huge booths stuffed with books - including ARCs you could pick up for free, no questions asked! I got ARCs of books on my Kindle wishlist that won't be published until later this year, which is so freaking cool.

Major literature publishers weren't the only ones there. We saw small presses and imprints, comic giants like DC, Image and IDW, NASA and the Library of Congress, even a small artist's alley for comics and artwork (though unlike the zine pavilion, I believe there was a fee to show in the artist's alley). I'm not even including the vendors of library technologies, furniture or electronic services.

Besides booths, there were various event stages were talks were being given, author signings to line up for and even a gaming area with D&D, Magic and other board games (I joined a family and we made good progress on a puzzle). McCormick Place is a huge warren of rooms and halls. Even though the show floor was massive, I felt like we only scratched the surface of the venue's real estate.

The Zine Pavilion itself would be familiar to anyone who's shown at art shows before. There were about 15 tables, a small presentation area and a library of zines from people not at the event. Our group of five easily covered all our table with our own work, as well as free zines from the prison abolition group Study and Struggle.

(I'm not great at taking pictures, so it didn't occur to me that my usual camera smile would've been hidden by my mask XD)

Lots of librarians were interested in learning about zines. I think libraries are looking for new ways to engage teen and young adult audiences, and zines are a great art form for that age group. Lee's zine their about cats was a huge hit with this crowd as well; librarians and cats seem to go together.

For this event, I made a zine called Books I Didn't Write. It's a collection of interesting-sound novel ideas that I've had over the last decade, followed by a very honest write-up of why they would've have worked. I also had two mental health zines.

It's a shame this event won't be in Chicago next year, because it was an absolute blast and comes highly recommended. Thanks so much to Violet Fox for organizing the Zine Pavilion!

[jaafarshaikh2573]

Exploring The Best Libraries In Dubai: A Guide For Book Lovers.

Dubai is a bustling city known for its luxurious hotels, skyscrapers, and shopping malls. However, it is also home to several impressive libraries that cater to the city's book lovers. These libraries offer a diverse range of books, from bestsellers to academic tomes, and provide a peaceful haven for those who love to read. In this article, we will explore the best libraries in Dubai that are a must-visit for book lovers.

Dubai Public Library

The Dubai Public Library is a network of eight branches spread across the city. The library was established in 1963 and has since grown to become one of the most comprehensive public libraries in the region. It has a collection of over 1.2 million books in several languages, including English, Arabic, and French. The library also has a dedicated children's section that offers a range of books and activities for young readers. The library is open seven days a week, and visitors can borrow up to six books for two weeks.

The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature Library

The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature Library is a unique library that caters to both adults and children. It is located in the Al Quoz area of Dubai and is part of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, which is held annually in Dubai. The library has a collection of over 5,000 books, including bestsellers, classic literature, and children's books. The library also hosts regular events and workshops, including book clubs and writing courses.

The Mohammad Bin Rashid Library

The Mohammad Bin Rashid Library is one of the most impressive libraries in Dubai. It is located in the Al Jaddaf area and covers an area of over 66,000 square meters. The library has a collection of over 4.5 million books, making it one of the largest libraries in the world. It also has a state-of-the-art technology center, a dedicated children's section, and several reading rooms. The library is open to the public and offers a range of membership options for frequent visitors.

The Dubai Women's Association Library

The Dubai Women's Association Library is a specialized library that caters exclusively to women. It is located in the Bur Dubai area and has a collection of over 10,000 books in several languages, including English, Arabic, and French. The library also has a dedicated section for children's books and regularly hosts events and workshops related to women's issues.

The American University in Dubai Library

The American University in Dubai Library is a modern library that caters to students and researchers. It is located in the Dubai Media City area and has a collection of over 35,000 books, including academic journals and reference books. The library also has several study rooms and a computer lab for students. It is open seven days a week and offers a range of services, including inter-library loan and document delivery.

The Dubai International Academic City Library

The Dubai International Academic City Library is a specialized library that caters to the academic community in Dubai. It is located in the Dubai International Academic City area and has a collection of over 110,000 books, including academic journals and reference books. The library also has several study rooms and a computer lab for students. It is open seven days a week and offers a range of services, including inter-library loan and document delivery.

The British Council Library

The British Council Library is a popular library located in the heart of Dubai. It has a collection of over 13,000 books, including fiction, non-fiction, and children's books. The library also has a dedicated section for English language learners and offers regular events and workshops related to English language learning.

Hor Al Anz Library is a public library located in the Hor Al Anz area of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is one of the branches of the Dubai Public Library network and is managed by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.

The library was opened in 1997 and has since been a popular destination for book lovers in the area. It covers an area of approximately 850 square meters and has a collection of over 100,000 books in several languages, including English, Arabic, and Urdu. The library also has a dedicated section for children's books, offering a range of educational and entertaining reads for young readers.

One of the unique features of Hor Al Anz Library is its focus on promoting cultural and social activities among its visitors. The library regularly hosts events and workshops related to literature, culture, and arts. These events include book clubs, poetry readings, storytelling sessions, and art exhibitions.

Al Rashidiya Library is a public library located in the Al Rashidiya area of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is part of the Dubai Public Library network, which includes several branches across the city and is managed by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.

The library was opened in 2004 and has since been a popular destination for book lovers in the area. It covers an area of approximately 750 square meters and has a collection of over 50,000 books in several languages, including English, Arabic, and Urdu. The library also has a dedicated section for children's books, offering a range of educational and entertaining reads for young readers.

Like other branches of the Dubai Public Library network, Al Rashidiya Library offers a range of services to its visitors. These services include computer and internet access, printing and photocopying, and reference services. The library also has a reading room where visitors can spend time reading or studying in a quiet and peaceful environment.

In addition to its books and services, Al Rashidiya Library also hosts regular events and workshops related to literature, culture, and arts. These events include book clubs, poetry readings, storytelling sessions, and art exhibitions. The library also partners with local schools to promote reading and education among children.

Al Rashidiya Library is open seven days a week, with extended hours on weekends and public holidays. Visitors can borrow up to six books for two weeks and can renew their borrowing for an additional period of two weeks if required. The library also offers a home delivery service for individuals who are unable to visit the library in person.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Dubai is home to several world-class libraries that cater to the diverse reading interests and needs of its residents and visitors. From the historic and iconic Etihad Museum Library to the modern and innovative Mohammed bin Rashid Library, there is no shortage of options for book lovers to explore.

Whether you're looking for a quiet place to read, study, or work, or are interested in attending engaging events and workshops related to literature, culture, and the arts, Dubai's libraries have something for everyone. Many of these libraries also offer a range of services, including computer and internet access, printing and photocopying, and reference services, making them valuable resources for the community. The libraries in Dubai are a testament to the city's commitment to promoting education, literacy, and lifelong learning. So, whether you're a long-time resident or a first-time visitor, be sure to check out some of the best libraries in Dubai and discover all the wonderful books, resources, and events they have to offer.

[books-to-devour]

The Lightning Thief is a 2005 American fantasy-adventure novel based on Greek mythology, the first young adult novel written by Rick Riordan in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. It won the Adult Library Services Association Best Books for Young Adults, among other awards.